Low dose aspirin does not prevent dementia or cognitive decline: ASPREE trial

Neurodegenerative disorders

By Michael Woodhead

1 Apr 2020

Taking a low-dose aspirin once a day does not reduce the risk of dementia, MCI, nor does it slow the rate of cognitive decline in elderly people, according to findings from a major Australian-led trial.

Published in Neurology the results of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) randomised controlled trial found no cognitive benefit of 100mg daily aspirin over placebo in more than 19,000 people over the age of 70 years.

When followed up for 4.7 years, there was no substantial difference in the risk of suspected dementia (hazard ratio 1.03), probable Alzheimers disease (HR, 0.96), or MCI (HR 1.12) between aspirin and placebo.

The outcomes were based on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test.

Cognitive change over time was similar in the aspirin and placebo groups.

“While these results are disappointing, it is possible that the length of just under five years for our study was not long enough to show possible benefits from aspirin,” said study author Dr Joanne Ryan (PhD), of Monash University’s School of Public Health in Melbourne.

“So we will continue to examine its potential longer-term effects by following up with study participants in the coming years.”

Already a member?

Login to keep reading.

OR
Email me a login link